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This is why I hate retail jobs. They do this on purpose to keep from laying people off officially. My daughter went through something similar at her grocery store job. They cut her to 8 hours a week but technically kept her "employed" so they wouldn't have to pay unemployment. She applied for UI anyway and got it, but her manager gave her attitude about it. Don't let them intimidate you!
That's exactly what I think is happening! They know if they formally lay us off they'd have higher UI costs. Did your daughter have any issues with her claim or was it pretty straightforward?
One more thing to be aware of: when you certify each week, you'll need to say "yes" to the question asking if you looked for work. Make sure you're actually applying to at least a few jobs each week and keep records of your job search activities (company name, date, position, how you applied). EDD can request this information at any time, especially if your employer tries to challenge your claim.
In my experience assisting claimants with appeals, the timeline depends greatly on how complex your case is and the current workload at that particular office. Simple cases (like those involving straightforward separation issues) tend to be decided more quickly than complex cases involving multiple eligibility issues or extensive evidence. Also, decisions are typically issued faster when the judge makes their determination during the hearing. If your judge indicated they needed to review additional evidence or legal precedents, that could extend the timeline. For what it's worth, most San Bernardino appeals I've seen in 2025 have been resolved within 2-3 weeks. If it goes beyond that, don't hesitate to follow up.
That's helpful context. My case is about whether I was fired for misconduct or performance issues (I say performance, employer says misconduct). The judge did say he wanted to review my employee handbook that my employer submitted before making a decision, so sounds like mine might take the full 2-3 weeks based on what you're saying.
One more important tip: during your appeal hearing, focus on these specific points:\n\n1. Your overall work history (8 years of good service)\n2. The isolated nature of this incident (single occurrence)\n3. Lack of prior warnings about this specific issue\n4. Lack of training on the importance of this documentation requirement\n5. No substantial harm to employer (if that's accurate)\n\nAvoid arguing about whether the termination itself was fair - that's not what the hearing is about. The only question is whether your actions rose to the level of \
Oliver Zimmermann
honestly this whole thing depends on how your employer responds when EDD contacts them. my sister quit and got benefits no problem because her employer didn't bother to contest it. my cousin got fired and was denied because his work told EDD he was chronically late (which was true). so a lot of it depends on what your employer says and if they fight it.
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Yara Nassar
•That's an interesting point that hasn't been mentioned yet. I wonder if my employer would even bother contesting it. They're a pretty large company with high turnover anyway. Something to consider for sure.
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Keisha Robinson
Unpopular opinion maybe but if ur work environment is THAT toxic then ur health is worth more than struggling with EDD!!! Just quit if u need to - mental health comes first. Found job searches are WAAAY easier when ur not dealing with toxic workplace every day. Took me 4 weeks to find new job after I quit my hellhole job.
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Yara Nassar
•I appreciate this perspective too. Fortunately I've built up some savings during my PFL (spending less overall while caring for my mom), so I do have a bit of a cushion if needed. You're right that job searching while not in a toxic environment would be easier mentally.
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